Stabilization of Electrocatalytic Metal Nanoparticles at Metal-Metal Oxide-Graphene Triple Junction Points

Journal Article · Wed Mar 02 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133(8):2541-2547

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja107719u· OSTI ID:1007355

Kou, Rong; Shao, Yuyan; Mei, Donghai; Nie, Zimin; Wang, Donghai; Wang, Chong M; Viswanathan, Vilayanur V; Park, Seh K; Aksay, Ilhan A; Lin, Yuehe; Wang, Yong; Liu, Jun

Carbon-supported metal catalysts are widely used in heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis. In this paper, we report a novel method to deposit metal catalysts and metal oxide nanoparticles on two-dimensional graphene sheets to improve the catalytic performance and stability of the catalyst materials. The new synthesis method allows indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals to be directly grown on functionalized graphene sheets forming the ITO-graphene hybrids. Pt nanoparticles are then deposited to form a special triple-junction structure (Pt-ITO-graphene). Both experimental study and periodic density functional theory calculations show that the supported Pt nanoparticles are stable at Pt-ITO-graphene triple junction points. The new catalyst materials were tested for oxygen reduction for potential applications in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, and they exhibited greatly enhanced stability and activity. The reasons for the high stability and activity of Pt-ITO-graphene are analyzed.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1007355
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-74979; 24990; EB4209000
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133(8):2541-2547, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133(8):2541-2547 Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 133; ISSN JACSAT; ISSN 0002-7863
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
CATALYSTS
Catalysts
Density Functional Theory
ELECTROLYTES
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
FUEL CELLS
FUNCTIONALS
Fuel Cells
Graphene
HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS
INDIUM
MEMBRANES
OXIDES
OXYGEN
PERFORMANCE
POLYMERS
STABILITY
STABILIZATION
SYNTHESIS
TIN OXIDES
Triple Junction